Panel offers expert analysis on causes, prevention of stent ...( (May 10 2007ORLANDO FL)Over the last...),Health

(May 10, 2007ORLANDO, FL)Over the last year, it's been rare to utter the word "stent" without at least thinking "thrombosis," an uncommon but serious complication that's been on the minds of interventional cardiologists and patients alike. At the 30th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI), May 912, 2007, in Orlando, FL, an international panel of experts will share their perspective on both the causes of stent thrombosis, or blood clot formation, and the latest research on its prevention.

The symposium is the most recent of several proactive steps SCAI has taken in addressing concerns about stent thrombosis. Others include testimony before the Food and Drug Administration Circulatory System Devices Advisory Panel and release of a clinical alert advising physicians on practical steps for reducing the risk of this potentially life-threatening late complication.

"The issue of stent thrombosisespecially late stent thrombosis after placement of a drug-eluting stentis critically important," said Gregory J. Dehmer, M.D., FSCAI, a co-moderator of the session and SCAI'S president. "Interest continues to be extremely high on this timely topic."

Drug-eluting stents are metallic mesh tubes that prop open narrowed arteries in the heart while slowly releasing a medication to prevent the build-up of scar tissue inside the stent. These tiny devices have been very successful in preventing renarrowing, or restenosis, of the coronary arteries, reducing its rate by 4060 percent compared to bare metal stents. However, several recent analyses that tracked patient outcomes for four to five years after stent placement showed that blood clots were slightly more likely to form inside drug-eluting stents than inside bare metal stents. It is not yet clear how large the difference in risk is, but available data suggest that each year drug-eluting stents hike the risk of late stent thrombosis by about 0.2
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Contact: Kathy Boyd David
kbdavid@scai.org
717-422-1181
Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions
10-May-2007